Q & A With Bret Prinz

By Mike Casella on May 28, 2008

BRIDGEWATER, NJ – Bret Prinz, pitcher for the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League, is one of the top relief pitchers in the Independent League. He currently leads the League in saves after earning his 11th save of the season last night in the Patriots 6-5 win last night against the Camden Riversharks at Commerce Bank Park in Bridge-water, New Jersey. Prinz has 102 games of Major League experience with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and the Chicago White Sox. He last pitched in the Major Leagues last season with the White Sox. Most of his career has been spent at the Triple-A level. The Atlantic League Inde-pendent spent a few minutes with Bret in the home team’s dugout prior to today’s early afternoon rematch with the Riversharks.

Atlantic League Independent : What differences do you see between professional baseball on this level versus other “minor” leagues?

Brett Prinz: There’s not much difference between Independent League baseball and Triple-A. You don’t have as many prospects just coming through the ranks up here; you know, guys who’ll just swing away. There are a lot of guys playing here who have experience, especially major league experience. So in that way, it’s sort of more chal-lenging here.

ALI: What’s it like playing for Sparky Lyle?

BP: It’s great. I mean he’s a legend. The stories you get to hear are great. He talks a lot about what it was like to play during his time and how the game has changed and stayed the same. He pretty much deals more with the position players than the pitchers. He lets Brett (Brett Jodie- pitching coach and director of baseball operations who signs all Patriot players) handle the pitchers. Sometimes we’ll talk about what pitch I should have thrown in a particular situation or what pitches I should use in certain situations. But he mostly lets me do my own thing.

ALI: What are you best pitches?

BP: My fastball and slider.

ALI: What are you doing here?

BP: [Laughing] Good question, I don’t know. Actually, I played last year in the Pirate organization and ended up getting released.

ALI: So what happens after that? Do you have an agent who tries to find you a team?

BP: Well no, but once you’re released, your name gets circulated around the Indepen-dent League teams and Brett (Jodie) gave me a call and asked me if I wanted to pitch for the Patriots. So I said yes and here I am.

ALI: What are your professional goals?

BP: I’d love to get back to the major leagues. I mean that’s everybody’s goal. It would be great to get out of here, but I’m o.k. if I don’t. I’ve accomplished a lot in my baseball career. I have had the chance to play baseball on the major league level for the team I grew up rooting for (NY Yankees), I have a World Series ring, played for some other great professional organizations, and now I’m playing for Sparky Lyle. So it’s been great. I’m happy with what I’ve done.

ALI: What are your plans after baseball?

BP: I want to teach and coach baseball.

ALI: What do you want to teach?

BP: I want to teach high school history and coach baseball back in Arizona where I live. My mom was a teacher and I think I can help kids in the classroom and on the playing field.

ALI: Thanks so much, Bret. Do you think you’ll pitch today? (He earned his league leading 11th save last night vs. Camden).

BP: No problem. If we have the lead in the ninth I’ll probably get the chance.

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